With council services being cut to the quick, a group of people have got together to spruce up Netherton themselves.

Residents, groundsmen, caretakers and maintenance staff rolled up their sleeves and set about removing weeds, cutting grass, clearing paths, removing rubbish and generally smartening the place up on Thursday.

The community clean-up was organised by Netherton Tenants and Residents Association in preparation for the for Better Places to Live 2015 event, which will be held on the estate on Monday.

Kirklees Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations (KFRTA) will bring around 300 people to Netherton to share information and look at working together to make Kirklees ‘A Better Place to Live.’

Jason Kerry, KFTRA fieldworker, said: “The TRA recognises that council resources are stretched, so they are keen to roll up their sleeves and show that they are a community who can do it for themselves.

“There is only so much the council will be able to do. The place where you live is your home and it may mean that going forward, more effort will have to be contributed by the community.

“We hope that on Monday, visitors will see how well the estate looks and will be inspired to do the same on their own estates.”

Everyone is invited to attend the Monday event, which will be held from 10am to 3pm all over the Netherton estate.

There will be more than 40 stalls, a climbing wall, bouncy castle, drumming workshops and family activities. Advice will be on hand from service providers and community organisations.

Speakers will be Kirklees Council Leader David Sheard, Tom Taylor, on not-for-profit organisations, Children North East on child poverty and holiday hunger, and Peter Turner on communities looking after green spaces